~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)
Simon Cowell sues US One Direction band over name
Page last updated at 19:31 GMT, Saturday, 23 June 2012 20:31 UK
- E-mail this to a friend [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Simon Cowell's entertainment company Syco has confirmed it is taking legal action against One Direction US.
Earlier this year, One Direction - a Californian pop/punk band - announced they were suing 1D UK claiming they had the band name first.
They said they had filed a trademark application for their name in America before the X Factor boy band.
Now Syco has begun a counter-claim suggesting the US band is trying to make money from their success.
Earlier this year Zayn Malik and Harry Styles from the UK group spoke to Radio 1 about the controversy.
They said they would not back down over calls for them to change their name.
The counter-claim is thought to be based on Simon Cowell's belief that fans of the X Factor runners-up are the ones who are at risk of getting confused over the names.
1D US claim they began selling their album The Light before 1D UK released their debut album Up All Night.
The UK group formed on the ITV1 show in 2010 when the judges put Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Niall Horan together.
They are the first UK group to enter the US Billboard 200 chart at number one with a debut album. The Beatles only managed to reach number two.
- E-mail this to a friend [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Print Sponsor
On Newsbeat today
Top stories
-
Watch Big Weekend day two
Artists including Biffy Clyro, Conor Maynard and Two Door Cinema Club took to the stage on day two of Big Weekend.
-
Biffy Clyro thrill Big Weekend fans
The Scottish rockers headline Saturday night in Londonderry as Labrinth, Conor Maynard and Ellie Goulding also perform.
-
Watch Conor Maynard on Labrinth
The singer says he expects to release a single from his second album soon and is working with Labrinth.
-
In pictures: Artists at Big Weekend on day two
Artists including The Saturdays, Conor Maynard and Iggy Azalea take to the stage at the Radio 1 event.
-
Ellie Goulding plays Radio 1's Big Weekend
Singer takes to the Main Stage in Londonderry as Conor Maynard and Two Door Cinema Club also perform.
-
Watch Saturdays as a foursome
The Saturdays say that they are getting used to performing without new mum Rochelle Wiseman.
-
In pictures: Fans party at Big Weekend
Fans party at Radio 1's Big Weekend in Londonderry where Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro and Bruna Mars are the headliners.
-
Two artists pull out of Radio 1 gig in Londonderry
AlunaGeorge and Angel Haze pull out of Radio 1's Big Weekend after Heathrow Airport disruption.
See also
-
Glee covers One Direction song
08 May 12Entertainment
-
One Direction 'won't change name'
18 April 12Music
-
How to know if band name's taken
13 April 12Music
-
One Direction US 'not intimidated'
13 April 12Music
-
One Direction appear on teen show
10 April 12Entertainment
-
One Direction make history in US
21 March 12Music
Most popular stories now
shared
-
Saudi drivers in 'sidewalk skiing' craze
-
Cockroaches evolving to evade traps
-
Man plays guitar during brain surgery
-
Brazil 'cancels' most African debt
-
How to speak Franglais
read
-
More arrests in Woolwich inquiry
-
Man killed in betting shop attack
-
Final trip for shortest flight pilot
-
'The cough that paralysed me'
-
Hunt for French soldier's attacker
-
Councils 'destroying' verge wildlife
-
Which is the North's best building?
-
UK plane alert suspects still held
-
'Thousands' on streets for EDL march
-
Is Ryanair really Europe's most punctual airline?
